Senior teams take top honours at badminton districts

May 4, 2015 Tara de Ryk

Loreburn Central School’s senior badminton teams are pictured with their district gold medals: from left, Austin Daniluk, John Dodds, coach Grant Abbott, Shane Lafontaine and Karissa Rendall.

By Joel van der Veen

ROSETOWN — Two senior badminton teams from Loreburn Central School were among the champions crowned at the West Central districts on Saturday, April 25.

John Dodds and Austin Daniluk were victorious in the boys doubles category, while Shane Lafontaine and Karissa Rendall took top honours in mixed doubles.

Other competitors from Kenaston and Loreburn took part in both junior districts, held at Kindersley Composite School, and senior districts, held at Rosetown Central High School.

Also competing from Loreburn were Grade 7 student Alyssa Glubis and Grade 9 student Dodge Long, who competed in the girls and boys singles categories.

“They won everything except for their final matches,” said Grant Abbott, who coaches badminton at Loreburn. “I’m quite proud of their accomplishments.”

Abbott noted that Glubis will have two more years to compete as a junior, observing, “The future looks pretty bright for her.”

The two senior teams went undefeated in districts, each winning their medals.

Abbott said another senior Loreburn team — Brianna Jess and Tori Rendall — had qualified to compete in girls doubles. Both players are also on the DLK Attack 15U girls club volleyball team, which took part in provincials on Saturday, and so did not compete in Rosetown that day.

“It was a tough decision,” said Abbott, adding that he had been given advance notice. “I knew that ahead of time.”

Evan Pasternak, one of Kenaston School’s badminton coaches, reported that the school sent one junior team to districts, while others were unable to attend due to a leadership conference being held in Marengo.

Brody Yelich and Nolan Haugen competed in the boys doubles category, winning one game and losing two.

Pasternak said it was “a fun year” despite the drawback of such a short season, adding, “I think a lot of the students definitely started to improve their skills.”

Players competed in pre-sectionals and sectionals the previous week, determining their eligibility for the district championships.

Davidson School had planned to send a junior boys doubles team, Clay Murfitt and Derek Schmiedge, to Kindersley, but ultimately they were unable to attend due to a lack of transportation.

Senior champions were eligible to compete in regional championships, scheduled to take place in Regina, Melville, Carrot River and Meadow Lake on Saturday, May 2.

The provincial championships will follow on May 9 at Moose Jaw’s A. E. Peacock Collegiate.

Obituary

McPhee, William (Bill)

May 4, 2015 Tara de Ryk

Bill passed away on February 22, 2015 at the age of 77. Bill was raised on the family farm north of Davidson until he moved into town in 1995. Bill enjoyed farming, cattle, nature and daily coffee.

Bill was predeceased by his parents, Jack and Violet McPhee, and his brother Don McPhee. Bill is survived by his sisters Marion McNabb, Norma Olliffe, Janet DeWalt and brother Neil McPhee, as well as several nieces and nephews.

There was a celebration of Bill’s Life at the Davidson Cemetery, Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 2 p.m. with Brian Hanson officiating. For friends so wishing memorial donations in memory of Bill may be directed to the charity of your choice. Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson was in care of arrangements.

Obituary

Domotor, Marilyn

May 4, 2015 Tara de Ryk

Marilyn Rose Domotor (Jo), age 71, of Saskatoon, formerly of Davidson, Sask., passed away at St. Paul’s Hospital on April 7, 2015 with her children by her side.

Marilyn was born in Saskatoon on December 4, 1943. She married the love of her life, James Domotor, on August 8, 1964. They raised their children, farmed and lived in Davidson until returning back to Saskatoon during her later years.

Marilyn lived her life till her last moments with a strong spirit, genuine heart and kind soul. She was actively involved in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives and activities. She will always be remembered for her beautiful smile and captivating personality.

Marilyn was predeceased by her parents Walter and Kathleen Rowley, her husband Jim and two sisters, Vina and Phyllis. She will be lovingly remembered by her children Bryon, Donna, Jennifer, Nancy (Greg); her grandchildren Dalton, Deon, Skye, Sierra, Annika, Katie, Karly; sisters Doris and Evelyn; and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff of the St. Paul’s Palliative Care and Palliative Homecare nurses for the compassionate care Mom received during her last days.

Services were held on April 11, 2015 at the Davidson United Church and she will be laid to rest beside her loving husband. Arrangements were entrusted to Hanson’s Funeral Home of Davidson.

Obituary

Mathers, Darryl

May 4, 2015 Tara de Ryk

Long-time Bladworth resident Darryl Mathers died suddenly early Tuesday morning, April 28, 2015 in Bladworth. Darryl was predeceased by his parents, Dan and Ethel Mathers. He is survived by his sister, Dianne Mathers of Kelowna, his nephew Tyson Daoust and his niece Carleen Daoust. Darryl attended school in Bladworth, farmed the family land and later worked for CN for many years in various Saskatchewan locations. He spent the last seventeen years of his working career at Panther Industries of Davidson. Darryl was also well known for his singing and for the musical entertainment service he provided for special events. Darryl had a great many friends in the Bladworth-Davidson area and across the country. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. A Celebration of Darryl Mathers’ life will be held in the Elks Hall in Bladworth at 2:00 p.m., Monday, May 4. For friends so wishing, memorial donations in memory of Darryl may be directed to the Sask. Heart and Stroke Foundation, Bladworth Elks, Bladworth Hall or to a charity of choice. Hanson’s Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Hanley

One giant leap for Hanley

April 27, 2015 Tara de Ryk

Clockwise from top right, actors Nicola Classen, Megan Fehr, Taylor Seymour and Lizzy Ettinger act out a scene from "One Giant Leap," presented by Hanley Composite School on April 18 during a drama festival in Davidson. — Clockwise from top right, actors Nicola Classen, Megan Fehr, Taylor Seymour and Lizzy Ettinger act out a scene from “One Giant Leap,” presented by Hanley Composite School on April 18 during a drama festival in Davidson.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — Hanley’s drama club took an audience on a trip to the moon in one of the plays featured in a recent high school drama festival in Davidson.

“One Giant Leap” was performed by the students of Hanley Composite School on Saturday, April 18, as one of five plays in the Saskatchewan Drama Association’s Region 6 Drama Festival, hosted by Davidson School on Friday and Saturday.

The only locally-penned play performed in the festival, it told the story of two elderly women banished to the moon in the year 2093 as the start of an experimental colony, and their encounter with the lunar locals they meet there.

One of the women, Patience (Taylor Seymour), meets a friendly alien, Lestock (Lauren Griffin) and decides to take her back home, though her roommate, Zelma (Hannah Fehr), is reluctant to allow the creature in.

The other aliens — Markinch (Nicola Classen), Bulyea (Lizzy Ettinger) and Cupar (Megan Fehr) — then embark on a quest to rescue their missing friend, leading to a confrontation back at the colony.

Throughout the play, the two ladies from Earth long to indulge in the mysterious contraband stimulant they’ve brought with them — later revealed to be tea — but also live in fear of the authoritarian Colonel Say (Emily Crocker), watching them through a two-way telescreen a la 1984.

At 60 minutes, the Hanley play was the longest production of the weekend, and it impressed on virtually every possible level, from the lively performances and clear diction of the actors to the use of fog, lighting and sound effects.

The production made liberal use of recorded music, ranging from classical music to Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, while the sets depicted both the dark, mysterious world of the moon people and the gleaming, sterile environment of the human colony.

The play was written and directed by Leanne Griffin, who began leading the drama club in Hanley 16 years ago when she was teaching there. Dave Carter served as assistant director and constructed the set.

Hanley’s performance was well-received by both the audience and adjudicators, winning a slew of awards for the cast and crew, and Griffin said she was pleased with the results and with the crowd response.

For the full story, see the April 27 edition of The Davidson Leader.

Davidson

Drama festival a learning experience for Davidson students

April 27, 2015 Tara de Ryk

At left, actors Elena Nykiforuk and Jesselynne Palmer take the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" approach as they try to escape a pack of zombies in a scene from "10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse." — At left, actors Elena Nykiforuk and Jesselynne Palmer take the “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” approach as they try to escape a pack of zombies in a scene from “10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse.”

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — A weekend of drama was enjoyed at Davidson School as five one-act plays were presented in a high school festival.

Davidson hosted students from Hanley, Rosetown and Unity in the Saskatchewan Drama Association’s Region 6 Drama Festival on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18.

Arlene Low, who served as festival host co-ordinator, said the students did a terrific job of playing host to their competitors over the course of the festival.

“They welcomed the other schools, socialized, made new friends,” she said. “Everybody did their part to make it a successful and welcoming weekend.”

The plays were presented in two sessions, with an attendance of roughly 100 people at each session.

The festival began on Friday evening as Davidson’s senior drama club presented “THS PHNE 2.0: The Next Generation,” followed by Rosetown Central High School’s “Pressure” and Unity Composite High School’s “Desperate Housewives of Shakespeare.”

On Saturday afternoon, two more plays were presented: “One Giant Leap” by Hanley Composite School, and “10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse,” presented by Davidson’s junior drama club.

Serving as adjudicators were Joy Falk, a teacher in the Prairie South School Division with a background in theatre studies and arts education, and Bill Shiers, a former Saskatchewan Drama Association board member and director now based in Jacksonville, Fla.

Shiers was the front of house adjudicator, watching all that transpired onstage, while Falk kept an eye on all the backstage action.

Following their performances, each group was given the opportunity for a workshop with the adjudicators, who offered their praise and criticism, often having the students recreate certain scenes with a few changes.

An awards banquet concluded the festival on Saturday afternoon. While all of the plays were honoured with awards, Rosetown’s “Pressure” was selected the best overall production and will go on to compete in the provincial festival, coming up from May 7 to 9 at the University of Regina’s theatre department.

For the full story, check out the April 27 edition of The Davidson Leader.

The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan